Sunday, September 6, 2015

Enhance your fall and thanksgiving tablescapes with this easy to make layered fall leaves placemat! It's totally handmade using fall maple leaves packets from the Dollar Tree, pleather from a left over project and fabric glue. How easy is that! Best of all, the design was inspired from a placemat found at Pier1 . . .

Pier1 Placemat

To begin, gather:

Packets of maple leaves from the DollarTree (4)

Sturdy material for backing - (pleather)

Circle template - used an old serving plate

Fabri-Tac fabric glue

Scissors, pencil

Draw a 18" circle on back of fabric and cut out.

Arrange leaves in piles according to size and color.

I had two piles of small leaves and three piles of larger leaves.

Begin gluing on the leaves using the smaller leaves and lighter colors first, adding them in a clockwise pattern. It's easier to have a pattern in mind to follow. Apply the leaves structurally, in a design, and not haphazardly with no direction.

Once the pale yellow leaves were glued on, I used the darker yellow ones with reddish orange tips to continue filling in.

Next, I started gluing on the larger leaves, first adding the yellow, reddish orange ones . . .

and then the darker, rusty orange leaves, adding them to the edges . . .

and finally, to the center. I didn't use any of the leaves that were green and tan.

The finished placemat looks more impressive in actuality . . . I think even better than the one found at Pier1!

The underside looks great, too!

A lovely nature inspired placemat!

I'm not good at creating tablescapes - but you can get an idea how this placemat would create a "WOW" factor, especially using clear plates that show off the colors of the leaves . . .

WOW! Gail that is awesome! I'm not the best when it comes to crafts, but when I saw this I had to stop and take a peek. I do believe I am going to put my hand at this and give it a try. :)Every other year we have our two daughters and their family's in our home for Thanksgiving, and this is not our year :( so it will give me a year to get it accomplished *smiles*Thank you for sharing ~ Debbie

You always share such uniquely creative projects Gail ! This is fabulous. Inspired by you I crafted with jute over the weekend ...will post soon and link back to you!CheersDr Sonia Cards Crafts Kids Projects

Beautiful and Fabulous. Hint, Hint. I bought the same leaves. Didn't know what I was going to do with them. Thought I might put on candles. I only got one package. I might have to go get more!Come over and share this Fabulous post. This weeks linky is open!

I have some of these leaves!! Bought them for another craft but they were barely used so what a great way to use them up! Love the way you made your placement, such a great idea. I am thinking you could do some on those cork coasters too for smaller ones to scatter around, maybe a jar candle on top? hmmm ideas ideas!

Awesome post! I would love to invite you to my new link party The Beautifully Creative Inspired. The party launches every Fridays at 9AM eastern time on 5 BLOGS! It runs until Wednesday night :D Hope you can party with us!

This looks super fun. I did not know they had these leaves at the dollar store. I am going to have to make a trip over there. You did a nice job and they would look fantastic on a table setting! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

This is AWESOME,i read from someone about using as a door hanging,i love this idea but can someone please tell me what pleather is ?? I do enjoy doing crafts and wish i had more space and time. This is beautiful and i thank you for sending. Have a blessed day .

Wow, wow, wow! So easy and pack such a punch! Other good backings for this would be burlap or canvas. And you could do it in any shape. Oval, rectangle, square, or even a runner! Awesome tutorial, THANKS! :-D